Bourne Society Pub History Group

Visit to the Six Bells, Newdigate, October 4 2003

OS Ref: 197420

The Six Bells is an attractive pub located on the Village Street opposite the attractive ancient parish church of St Peter with 12^th Century origins in the rural community of Newdigate. The village is situated in the Low Weald south of Dorking. The pub is so called because the church possesses six bells housed in an oak belfry. However, before 1805 the church only had five bells, and the pub was named The Five Bells.

 

The Six Bells, Newdigate by Paul Sandford

The location has been the terminus of a rural bus route for nearly a century – the S26 in 1924 from Redhill by the Frith photograph displayed here - and today a terminus for route 21.

The S26 bus at Newdigate Six Bells, 1924

The pub was probably created from three early cottages, as it has an inglenook fireplace in the left hand room, with other similar fireplaces hidden and boarded up in the two adjoining rooms on the frontage. Up to late Victorian times the Court of Cudworth Manor met here. It is said that this pub was also used as a "safe house" for storing contraband in the days of smuggling.

Today, at the rear is a large eating area which, on Mondays and for special matches, serves as a skittles alley. The Six Bells is owned by Hall & Woodhouse, with a wide selection of guest beers including Sussex Ale and Fursty Ferret. The other local pub is the Surrey Oaks, visited last year.

 

Research in the recent book ‘Newdigate – Portrait of a Wealden Village’ by John Callcut and the Newdigate Society reveals that a Mr Cheesman ran the pub in the early 19^th Century. He, incidentally, supplied beer to the Duke of Norfolk in 1816. In this period, for 200 years from the early 17^th Century, the area was in decline after the closure of the iron industry on the nearby High Weald. The Low Weald of this area is wet clay and poor for arable farming, and many buildings fell down in the damp and impoverished conditions of this time.

In 1871 Walter Edwin is listed in Kelly’s Directory at the Six Bells, not only as licensee but as a veterinary surgeon! 

 

From 1881 census we find Fred and Emma Rose running the Six Bells.

Dwelling:           Village Six Bells Inn

Census Place:   Newdigate, Surrey, England

Source: FHL Film 1341187     PRO Ref RG11    Piece 0794    Folio 66    Page 24

                                    Marr      Age      Sex       Birthplace

Frederick G. ROSE        M          23         M          Capel, Surrey, England

            Rel:      Head

            Occ:     Licd Victualler

Emma ROSE                M          21         F          Godstone, Surrey, England

            Rel:      Wife

Susan BATCHELOR      U          16         F          Newdigate, Surrey, England

            Rel:      Servt

            Occ:     Domestic Serv

 

The 1901 census shows the couple still there.

 

By 1905 George J. Butcher had taken over, and was advertising “ Good accommodation for motorists and cyclists”. A photograph of the period is found in the pub. He also had other work, as an overseer. He appears in the Directory up to 1922. From 1934-38 Fred Grinsted ran the place.

 

Today the pub is at the heart of the community, and a recent venue for the Aircrew Association and the Morgan Club.

 

Footnote: For further information on the Newdigate book, see

http://www.communityhistory.co.uk/newdigate.htm

 

 

 

Paul Sandford, Bourne Society,  September 2003   www.bournesociety.org.uk